Umberto Valenti

Umberto Valenti (14 August 1891-11 August 1922) was a prominent leader of the early Gambino crime family of New York City under Salvatore D'Aquila, whom he served as his chief assassin.

Biography
Umberto Valenti was born on 14 August 1891 in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Sicily, Italy, and he came to the United States in 1910, settling on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. Valenti became an associate of mob boss Salvatore D'Aquila, and he became known as his chief assassin. Valenti was suspected in at least twenty murders, and he was forced to flee to Sicily when it was rumored that D'Aquila wanted to get rid of him. Valenti made it up to D'Aquila by murdering his enemy Vincenzo Terranova in 1922. The day after murdering Terranova, Valenti attempted to assassinate Joe Masseria, but Masseria somehow dodged every bullet fired at him. Two days later, Valenti was tracked down by Masseria's allies Giuseppe Morello and Lucky Luciano as he left his apartment. He was shot several times as he ran to a taxi, and his death earned Masseria the nickname "Joe the Boss".